Hard mounted removable marine bumper

ABSTRACT

A removable hard mounted vertical bumper for the purpose of stern tying a marine vessel that greatly reduces risk to swim platforms. By creating a vertical barrier between the swim platform (FIG.  2 - 6 ) and the dock (FIG.  2 - 7 ), the swim platform cannot slip under (FIG.  2 - 9 ) or over (FIG.  3 - 10 ) the dock (FIG.  2 - 7 ) thus reducing greatly the risk of damage while stern tied. The bumper is comprised of the bumper (FIG.  1 - 1 ) and mounting bracket (FIG.  1 - 2 ). The bumper is removed via quick release pins (FIG.  1 - 3  and  4 ) for normal operation of the vessel.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

PPA 60/482,694

FEDERALLY SPONSERED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to marine bumpers devices used on marine vessels to protect them from damage from tying off to a dock, similar structure, or other marine vessel.

2. Background of the Invention

Mariners with vessels that have swim platforms have been facing the challenge of securing their vessels when required to stern tie. We have invented a hard mounted removable bumper for marine vessels. The bumper protects vessels from damage when stem tied off to a marine dock, similar structure, or other marine vessel. The bumper can be installed and removed quickly for docking purposes. The bumper is hard mounted to provide better protection and stability over the current tied on fender bumper method most commonly used for stem tying. Marine vessels utilizing a mounted swim platform that need to be stem tied, cannot securely tie off without risk to the swim platform. Traditional fenders are attached with a rope and are thus prone to shifting out of place resulting in the swim platform slipping under or over the dock thus damaging the swim platform.

We invented and designed a bumper that solves the problem of swim platform damage by being hard mounted to the swim platform thus preventing the platform from slipping over or under a dock, similar structure, or other marine vessel for which it is being tied off The bumper has a hard mounted bracket that forms the structure at the end of the swim platform for the bumper to mount to. The mounting hardware allows for ease of installation or removal of the bumper with minimal effort or time. This mounting forms a secure vertical barrier surface between the stem of a marine vessel with a swim platform and the dock, similar structure, or other marine vessel. The mounting bracket can double as a hinge to allow the bumper to swing into a horizontal position or slide that allows the bumper to be moved out of the water for the purpose of moving from dock to dock for short distances. The hinged version of the bumper is attached via two quick release pins. One pin acts as a hinge pin and the other as a locking pin for the two positions of the bumper, vertical for stem tying to a dock or similar structure and horizontal for moving short distances. The slide version has one pin that allows for vertical barrier mounting that can be released quickly allowing the bumper to be removed from the water. Both mounting methods allow the bumper to be removed quickly for normal operation of the marine vessel.

The bumper can also serve as a means for one or more vessels to side tie off to the vessel with the bumper installed. This allows for two or more vessels to tie off to one another increasing the protection for all vessels.

SUMMARY

In the present invention, a hard mounted removable marine bumper is comprised of mounting pieces with one or two quick release pins to attach the bumper component. When the bumper is placed into position via the mounting hardware and quick release pins, the marine bumper forms a vertical barrier allowing for stem tying without damage to a swim platform. The marine bumper also allows for the tying off of other vessels without damage.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of bumper. Item 1 bumper is attached to item 2 top hinge plate via item 3 quick release hinge pin. Item 1 bumper can be locked into a horizontal or vertical position via item 4 quick release locking pin. Items 1-4 are secured by four bolts to item 5 through the swim platform or hull.

FIG. 2 is the bumpers installed in vertical position on item 6 swim platform. Bumpers rest against item 8 face plate of item 7 dock. This prevents item 6 swim platform from slipping under item 9 the bottom of dock.

FIG. 3 shows how swim platform cannot ride over item 10 top of dock.

FIG. 4 shows item 1 bumpers locked into the vertical position via item 4 quick release locking pin inserted into the bottom hole of item 1 bumper.

FIG. 5 is a detail of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows by removing item 4 quick release locking pin, bumper is allowed to swing (motion 11) into a horizontal position via item 3 quick release hinge pin.

FIG. 7 shows the bumpers locked into there horizontal position, via item 4 quick release locking pin into top hole of item 1 bumper.

FIG. 8 shows item 1 bumper removed from item 2 hinge plate, by removing both item 3 quick release hinge pin and item 4 quick release locking pin.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given. 

1. A removable hard mounted bumper (FIG. 1-1) for stern tying a vessel to a dock, similar structure, or other vessel (FIG. 2-7) that creates a vertical barrier between the vessel and the dock, similar structure, or other vessel.
 2. The bumper (FIG. 1-1) can be made from a hard material or composite, or a soft form (i.e.—inflatable rubber or plastic coated foam) with a rigid backing.
 3. The mounting bracket is a quick pin release design (FIG. 4-4) that can double as a hinge or slide style to allow the unit to be moved into a position, out of the water, for normal operation of the vessel.
 4. Both the hinge and slide mounting brackets allow for quick pin release for stowing when not in use. 